Anyone who even vaguely follows the news will know that over the past few years, the subject of police violence and accountability has escalated greatly. With a large number of high-profile cases that involve white policemen shooting black civilians, the question arises… what happens when the protectors become the predators?

The people who enforce the law shouldn’t be above it

Having a gun, a uniform and a badge do not mean that the world is your playground, where you can do what you like without consequence. Law enforcers should be there to protect the law and make sure it is being followed, safely. This doesn’t mean that they are exempt from obeying the law themselves. The same rules that apply to you and I should always apply to law enforcers too. This doesn’t mean that “self-defense” can be used with reckless abandon.

Law-enforcement is the modern-day executioner of people of color

You only need to look at the cases of Manuel Loggins Jr., Sean Bell, Michael Brown and much more to realize that there is a rising trend of white police executing black men and women without reason or cause. Police are there to protect all citizens, not to make rash choices based on the color of someone’s skin, or based on their own prejudices. The assumption of white police that black men and women are trouble-makers and dangerous only leads to more execution and unfair stigma around young black men.

Law enforcement and hired killers

Two black men were shot dead in July 2016 in Dallas, Texas. Philander Castile and Alton Sterling were unarmed but were still shot down by police. Because of this, 5 policemen were later shot dead. There are some conspiracy theories that both of these incidents were actually planned by law enforcers. Some people believe that the killing of five policemen was a planned attack in order to take the relevance out of the Black Lives Matter movement that was gaining traction. If this is so, then this just shows how much power law enforcement has, even against their own men when it comes to controlling society.

White supremacy in law enforcement

As confirmed by The Intercept, the FBI officially acknowledged that white supremacists have infiltrated and influenced law enforcement agencies in the USA. This means that within the agencies that are responsible for the protection of citizens, there are people in power who can make decisions with white supremacist intentions. By having the presence of white supremacists in law enforcement, this means the execution of people of color is likely to continue.

Police have a lot of power, but not a lot of accountability

Matthew Ajibade was killed by 2 policemen. Only 1 of these men was convicted, and he was only sentenced to 1 year in prison, and only on weekends ( mappingpoliceviolence.org ). The law favors the police. This is dangerous when considering that police have access and rights when it comes to weapons and defense. What is stopping a police man or woman from acting violently if the law is not going to punish and reprimand them? Having a lot of power comes with a lot of responsibility, but this responsibly can be highly abused if there is no one above to issue punishments and keep the law in line with its own rules and expectations of civilians.

FLORIDA CRIMINAL LAW NEEDS TO BE PUT RIGHT

Jennifer Mee was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life without parole as a 19-year-old but her case highlights some serious flaws in the mindset of those responsible in her length sentence and the logic behind the law in Florida which says those who are a party to a fatal robbery are equally guilty of murder as the person who did the actual killing.

Jennifer arranged a date with a young man she had met on Facebook, however, her intention was to rob him with the help of two male companions. He only the other hand was under the impression he was going on a date with Jennifer. At no stage did she ever intend to kill him.

The question is “Who is responsible for the discharge of a firearm?”

It should really be the person in possession of it. To suggest others are equally responsible is the same as saying “The passengers of a motor vehicle are as equally guilty of driving under the influence as the person behind the wheel.” It is all down to placing the sole responsibility on the one in control of the firearm and no one else.

In Jennifer’s case, she had nothing to do with the actual killing. It was not premeditated or intentional.

Her crime does not fit the definition of murder but rather manslaughter.

What really stunned people was when her sentence was announced, “Life without the possibility of parole.”

How could any judge justify the sentence which Jennifer received when there are cases of premeditated murders which earn the offenders a much lesser sentence and they can see light at the end of the tunnel.

The Florida governor has the ability to grant clemency to any inmate so it is up to him to do the right thing in Jennifer’s case.

Why do the U.S sentence offenders to life without the possibility of parole when other countries do not have such harsh sentences?

It is beyond dispute some offenders cannot be rehabilitated but Jennifer’s is not one of these. Her crime seemed to be based on the rationale, “If she had not have done such and such then this would not have happened.”

Is this fair?

There was a media frenzy at Jennifer’s trial because as a 15-year-old she gained notoriety as the “Hiccup Girl” when she had incurable cases of hiccups. By the time she was 19 the hiccup problem was cured. There was a lot of emotion at Jennifer’s trial as you would expect at a trial where the victim is deceased, but Judges are supposed to rise above all of the emotion. It seems that this was not so in Jennifer’s case. How could there be any justification for Jennifer’s sentence?

I have written letters to politicians in the US but have not received a single reply. If that is how they respond to people who question the way they treat human beings is it any wonder that people resort to other means to get their point across as was the case with the Black Lives Matter following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

If only politicians would listen to what is being said and not try to politicise every single event which comes along whether it be coronavirus, the economy, or Black Lives Matter protests.

Is it any wonder the Black Lives Matter protests took place recently (2020). America needs to find alternative ways to deal with crime and not just lock them up and throw away the key.

What I would like

1. That teenagers should not be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

2. That when an older person is involved in a crime with a minor then the balance of responsibility should fall with the older ones.

3. That whoever is in possession of a firearm should be responsibility for any outcomes/fatalities after it is discharged.

4. That sentences be cut for those convicted as minors and the money saved by use for youth programs.

5. That many offenders be sent out into the community for voluntary community work.

In our 21st episode of the Madness Chronicles, we’ll take a look at the madness of the sharks circling the President. Remember, madness is a state of being mentally ill, especially severely, extremely foolish behavior, and a state of frenzied or chaotic activity. Let’s take a look at evidence the Left is closing in for the kill.

It’s funny how all the Democratic states and cities were in a frenzy over social distancing and taking control of people not adhering to their directives during the ‘deadly’ coronavirus pandemic. Then one day, four Minneapolis policeman, unashamedly killed a person who wasn’t even resisting arrest. And everything changed. The deceased is a black man, and all bets are off, we have a cure for the virus.

Despite the DA acting quickly, like the same day, arresting one, then all four officers would seem like justice to me… riots ‘spontaneously’ erupted across America and around the world. Isn’t that interesting? And just like that, it’s a new day, and ‘systemic racism’ is the cause, not the virus.

White privilege is back in the headlines. Star NFL quarterback and all-around lovely guy Drew Brees is forced to apologize for saying he and we should honor the flag. Now his wife came out and said, ‘we are the problem.’ Transrepublican Mitt Romney marched with Black Lives Matter today. There is nothing too low for Mitt to go. White people are acting like battered women quickly crying; it’s their fault their husband (the media) is beating them to death.

Minneapolis City Council is moving to abolish their police force after a mob cornered the mayor over the issue. Not to be outdone, the Democrats in Congress are running to put forth a massive police reform bill. In other madness, a UCLA Professor was placed on leave, pending an investigation. His offense? He didn’t cancel finals for minorities who were grieving the death of the unfortunate Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis.

In DC this week, a video shows 15 FBI Special Agents kneeling in solidarity with ANTIFA, the same organization creating riots across America. It seems they are following in the footsteps of Senator Romney. How low can they go after ten years of corrupt behavior? In out of the way Fall River, Massachusetts, an 82-year-old man was on the street with a Trump sign when a passing car screeched to a halt. A young man jumped out and beat up the elderly man for his hate in liking Trump.

New York City has seen whole sections destroyed and burned, including the downtown Macy’s, one of the city’s icons. Mayor DeBlasio looks on and says there is no need for the National Guard in his town. Meanwhile, a new group showed up this week in the protests and commandeered several youths. Black Hammer members gathered the kids and taught them they were part of a revolution to overthrow the United States. They had the youth repeating slogans like ‘we live on stolen land’ and other revolutionary gems. The kids were in awe of their new mentors.

Like sharks in the water, Leftists once again smell blood in the water. In their quest to get President Trump, they hope this ‘crisis’ will be the one to send him packing. They’ve been trying for four years and are getting desperate as November 2020 approaches. You think you’ve seen madness? You haven’t seen anything yet.

May we wake from this madness before it’s too late. I wish you good health and until next time has fun, enjoy life, and watch out for the madness amongst us.

Black Lives Matter. All Lives Matter. The killing of George Floyd was a tragic event which happened. Now everyone knows his name after his death was caused by the brutality of a police officer with others apparently supporting the officer even though bystanders were pleading for mercy for the victim who was clearly in distress.

So many lives have been ruined all because of a counterfeit $20 bill. The owner of a Minneapolis grocery store called the police to report that two black men had been in his store and that George Floyd had used a counterfeit $20 bill. The owner later said that George Floyd may not have even known that the bill was counterfeit. Perhaps the companion of George Floyd could throw some light on that story, but it is unlikely that they would have knowingly tried to pass bogus money while driving a Mercedes and then lingering in the area after the purchase at the store.

So many lives were ruined over a $20 counterfeit bill. George Floyd lost his life that day by his mistreatment. His family has lost their beloved brother or father. His friends have lost someone close to them. The police officer who committed the act and the other three who supported their colleague are facing serious prison time as they have been charged with murder and being complicit.

A couple of days later, the world turned upside down. Just barely starting to recover from the pandemic of the Covid-19 virus, people let their emotions run loose so the United States sustained much pain and hardship. Many more lives were ruined with the demonstrations by protesters who wanted to show support for George Floyd and the other unarmed black people who have lost their lives due to racism and disrespect.

All the people who were arrested during what started out to be peaceful protests may now have criminal records. The people who lost their businesses due to looting and vandalism have lost so much. Their places of business were ruined, and they lost their livelihood which was already suffering due to the pandemic. The people who resorted to criminal acts and looted businesses are likely facing jail time if they were caught. If they were not caught, they have likely started on a life of crime which will cause future problems. People were injured or killed in the riots. So many lives have been ruined over that one $20 counterfeit bill.

We can’t know for sure if the police officers were racist against African American people. One of the officers was an Asian American, and the officer charged with murdering George Floyd has been married to an Asian American woman for ten years.

Many ethnic minority people have experienced racism to some degree. Asian Americans are facing discrimination at the present time because they are being unjustly blamed by some for the coronavirus coming to the United States.

Yet we all know that it is worse for African Americans. If people like Magic Johnson face racism and have to warn their sons about the treatment they may receive simply for the color of their skin, we know that changes are long overdue. People must be treated with respect and consideration no matter the color of their skin. There has been too much racism which has been allowed to continue in this country for too many years.

In this day and age when nearly everyone carries a cell phone with a camera on it, you would think that people would be more careful about their actions. Still, it has not deterred much of the violence and brutality in the country including among law enforcement. Most police officers are undoubtedly doing their job the best they know how without brutality. A few bad apples ruin it for the good people.

Racism was the main cause of Japanese Americans being forced from their west coast homes during World War II when they were unjustly incarcerated in camps although they were totally innocent. Many Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and other ethnicities have had racist slurs hurled at them. African Americans often face the worse kind of racism.

George Floyd has become a symbol for trying to improve race relations. It is hoped that his life will be remembered and that conditions will finally change. We all need to do our part to treat others with the respect that everyone deserves. Racism has no place in society. Too many lives are ruined because of racism.

The traditional Memorial Day of May 30, 2020, was a day of historical significance. On that day many demonstations and protests erupted throughout the United States to speak out against police brutality against black men and the unjust death of George Floyd by a police officer of the Minneapolis police department with three other police officers in close proximity. No one stopped the mistreatment of a black man although bystanders tried to intervene.

Conditions should have improved by now instead of deteriorating regarding police brutality against black men. People who were adults or young people in 1991 know the name of Rodney King. Although his name became a household word for a while, younger people today may not have heard the name.

Rodney King was in a high-speed chase with Los Angeles police on March 3, 1991. He wasn’t innocent since he was being chased by the police, but what happened next caused turmoil and outrage. The officers pulled King out of the car and brutally beat him. An amateur cameraman caught it all on videotape which was broadcast to the nation. The four officers involved were indicted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and excessive use of force. After a three month trial held in Simi Valley, a predominantly white suburb of Los Angles, a mostly white jury acquitted the officers. There were no African American jurors.

This set off the violent 1992 riots in Los Angeles. Rodney King made a public appearance on the third day of the riots and said: “People, I just want to say, can’t we all get along? Can’t we all get along?”

Later the United States Department of Justice filed federal civil rights charges against the four officers. Two were found guilty with the other two being acquitted. Rodney King received some compensation.

Rodney King was an African American man born in Sacramento, California, in 1965. He was just shy of his 26th birthday when he was beaten by the police officers in Los Angeles. He became a symbol for the racial tension in America. He later said he forgave the officers and that he had been forgiven many times in his life, but his life was not easy after that encounter. He had a troubled life, and he was found dead in a swimming pool in 2012 at the age of 47.

The death of George Floyd caused by a Minneapolis police officer has brought the racial tensions back to the forefront. Although there have been other cases of police brutality against black people, this case has ignited suppressed feelings in many people.

As news reporters have noted, most of those in the peaceful protests across the country have been white people. They feel the pain of their black friends. Even in places where there are large populations of black people, the white people seem to outnumber those in the groups proclaiming their outrage at the treatment which George Floyd received.

Black Lives Matter has become a cry of the day. It is too bad that conditions did not improve markedly when that slogan first came out or when Rodney King and others were brutalized in the past. People did not want things to escalate to the state of affairs of the demonstrations across the nation after they turned violent, but they want change and fairness for their fellow citizens.

George Floyd’s name has become famous as well. He would not have wanted it to be this way. We don’t know if he was totally innocent, but he surely did not expect such treatment and to lose his life in such a brutal manner. Yet he has become a symbol for something very wrong in this country. May he rest in peace and may his family find some comfort in knowing that his name should be a catalyst for change and improvement. George Floyd’s brother stated that the family wants George Floyd’s name to be remembered, but they do not condone the rioting, looting, vandalism, and violence being done.

Most racial minorities in the United States have experienced racism to some degree. There are countless cases of people being racist and prejudice against people who are different than they are. Japanese Americans faced extreme racism during World War II when they were unjustly incarcerated in camps although they were totally innocent. Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and other ethnicities have seen racism up close and personal, but many African Americans are still facing the worse kind of racism.

Will it go away? Will these peaceful protesters be able to get their message across to people who will listen and who will do something to remedy the situation? Let’s hope that this time it will work to improve conditions.

Grandparents are suffering and having a difficult time during these unprecedented conditions in the world. Not only is the pandemic adversely impacting the older grandparents over the age of sixty-five and/or with preexisting medical conditions, but now the protests over racism have them worried as their grandchildren participate in the peaceful protests.

When the Covid-19 virus first started to become a big issue in the United States, it was stated that older people were at higher risk. Although the coronavirus has affected some younger people, the oldest in the population continue to be the most vulnerable. One wonders how the virus got into nursing homes and senior living facilities, but those facilities seem to have been hit very hard.

People have been dying with only medical personnel around them in nursing homes and hospitals as they have been restricted from having visitors. Although some of the oldest patients who were lost to the virus may have been ready to leave this life, it is sad to realize that they could not see their family and friends in their last days upon the earth.

With states trying to get back to normal and ease restrictions, social distancing has been difficult to maintain especially with the protests which erupted after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. There are few grandparents in the protesting crowds, but the grandparents have to worry about their grandchildren who are engulfed in the fight for justice for black people.

White people and young people have become overwhelmingly supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racism. The large crowds are a worry for people who are concerned with the spread of the coronavirus. Grandparents share that concern.

During World War II, Japanese Americans and immigrants from Japan were unjustly removed from their west coast homes. Most of them lost almost everything they owned including their freedom as they were incarcerated in camps. Two thirds of them were United States citizens. There were some grandparents in the group. They thought the Constitution would protect their children and grandchildren who were American citizens. That was not to be the case as racism and hatred caused these innocent people to be imprisoned unjustly.

People can be grandparents while they are relatively young. For those grandparents who are older, they realize that the end could be close. Their concern is not so much for themselves, but they are concerned for their grandchildren. Some who have true concern for others in society are trying to help erase racism.

Grandparents may be having a difficult time now, but most are likely proud of their children and grandchildren for their efforts to make the United States a more just and equitable country.